Leigh, 16, was competing in the UK School Games representing the North West in Coventry at the weekend.

And she knocked one and a half seconds off her personal best to finish in 2.09.97 in the Under 17 event and earn a place on Kelly Holmes' "On camp with Kelly' running camps next year. Her previous best was 2.11.29.

Leigh, a member of Ribble Valley AC, raced to a bronze medal at the Games but was desperately unlucky as the girl in silver medal position had the same time as her - but was given second spot - while the winner was just 0.24 of a second ahead of Leigh.

"She is absolutely over the moon," said dad and coach Don Lennon, with Leigh now ranked third Under 17 in the country over the two lap event.

"Kelly Holmes rung her before she ran at the weekend and told her to go and break 2.10 and get on her running camp.

"It was a huge incentive for Leigh and she did really well.

"She had said to me she felt brilliant on the morning of the race and she was 25 metres behind going into the final straight and she was by far the fastest finisher.

"She has won 17 medals this summer in big competitions including the English Schools, Nationals and AAAs. She has done really well."

Leigh, who has been invited to compete in London representing the North in the Under 20 age category this weekend, will also be training with another Olympic athlete Diane Modahl who will be offering her advice and tuition during the winter.

And Robbie Schofield also clinched a bronze medal in the Men's Under 17s event after just scraping through to the 800m final.

"He came through as a fastest loser and it was touch and go," said his coach Don.

"He kicked himself as he got himself into silly positions but it is a learning curve for both Leigh and Robbie at the moment."

Robbie finished in one minute 56 seconds - less than a second off the winner. His personal best is 1.54.36.